-nods along, taking mental notes-
There is no such thing as innocent, unless you're talking about small children, but I'm guessing you already know that.
-rubs scruff on chin-
Adara, I'm guessing she's the boss who you think will like my face. Correct?

I wouldn't know what to do with myself if life was boring. It might be nice, come to think of it.
-shakes his head-
Maybe I'll do that.
-slips the card into a back pocket-
Anything else I should know? Important details?

-stoic expression-
-lovesbeing psychoanalyzed-
-not-
You caught me. My mom put me through years of Boy Scouts when I was a kid. I guess it left its mark on me.
-shrugs-
You're observant, I'll give you that much. More than boy band pretty. Unexpected and refreshing.
-examines Tiber a second time-
-extends his right hand, steel watch band peeking out from under the cuff-
Lennox. What can I do for you, Tiber?

No more strange than waiting to be noticed while pretending you're not wanting to be noticed.
-gives the man a look-
-takes the card-
-examines the card-
-examines the man-
If you're trying to bring back boy bands and looking to recruit for one, I am not your best candidate. I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

-leaves a can of peas on Tiber's desk--turns to leave, stops--turns the volume of all electronic devices to 'max'--replaces moonshine with water, wine with grape juice.. in other words, reverse Jesus' the beverages--looks around--uses thumbtacks to turn desk chair into a Judas chair--covers said chair nonchalantly with a very soft, cashmere throw--drops one of Adara's business cards on the floor as 'evidence'--struts the f-ck out like a boss-

-wanders out of his cabin--trips over a plastic pumpkin--grumbles loudly and grabs all of the cotton cobwebs he can find--stuffs said pumpkin with cobwebs--wanders close to Tiber's cabin--lights cobwebs on fire, kicks pumpkin at Tiber's door--runs-

-holds up a hand, shakes his head- Nein.. no love for you. -rolls over in his bed--watches as all the Halloween decorations crash to the floor.. like their LOVE--pulls his comforter tight to his chest- Please leave Tiber. I was almost over you.-buries his face into his pillow to muffle his laughter-

-is never really 'asleep'--hears someone enter his room--sniffs at the air, realises it is male--feels things being placed on him?--one eye opens, sees Tiber.. for the first time in a very long while--feigns crazy ex-girlfriend behaviour- Ja? Did you miss me? You do not call. You do not send letters. You just disappear. Do you not know how this might make a person feel? And now, you just waltz into my room and start placing decor on my body? -pats on the mattress- Did you need cuddles Herr Loche? Is that all I am good for to you? The inbetween days?-sniffles and tuts- Very hurtful.

No. Not in so many words did you say it.
[narrows gaze]
But you kind of reacted like my kiss might melt your lips. So you had to wipe it off quick enough to keep your skin intact.
[shrugs]
Can't win them all..
[focuses on him]
Yeah.. You look like you could shell a pistachio or two.
[blows her kazoo]

[scrunched up her face]
Really? I'm gross or something?
[shakes her head]
Lips help guide the flow of air.
Like blowing a bubble.
But from your lack of kissing ability I'm sure you couldn't blow a bubble to save your life.
[just sighs]
It's magical.. or it used to be.
[looks over her kazoo sadly]
It used to bring people together..

[smirks]
That's a no.
It's not defective. Give me that!
[takes the kazoo back]
[blows on it, making a sound]
See?
You aren't great with direction, eh?
[leans in and presses a kiss to his lips -- light and innocent]
Now try.
[hands kazoo back over]

[eyes him over during his mini meltdown]
[waits til he's done]
Excuse me..
Are you dismissing my kazoo? Same as a cowbell? Really??
[holds the kazoo up in front of him]
You see this??
This bad boy is magic.
[brings it back to her lips and blows]

Ah!!
[yanks hand back to avoid swats]
[has no sense of boundaries]
No biggie. It was just your willy.
[shrugs]
[raises brow]
You know you're talking crazy, right? What kind of band would a kazoo attribute to?

Tell you?
[scoffs]
How about I show you?
[invades his space - again and retrieves object]
[blushes]
And I think I just rubbed onto second base..
[shows the once hidden object -- a plastic red kazoo]
Magical. I know.

RingleaderIs Tiberious why you had an appointement?And if I knew where it was, would I be asking you, telling you, to find her?When I spoke to her, she was drinking her problems away.Maybe the happy at the Den was feigned?Or she was just happy to be away from the crazies.Worse crazies than all of us.

"Oh, Tiberius, come on now." she smirked, reaching into her pocket for a trinket, for some sort of peace offering. But all she could find was a packet of gum, with a single piece remaining, and she quickly popped it between her lips to chew. "Are my compliments hitting the wrong buttons?"

"Oh!" Her eyes widen in recognition, her mouth forming a near-perfect circle of plump lips, edged with a knowing smile. "Tiberius I know. Tiberius I know very well indeed. Tiber makes you sound like a kitten. But Tiberius? Tiberius is far more...more..." those same lips tightened into a pout as she fought to find the right words. And failing, she simply smiled once more. "Tiberius would kick the sh*t out of Tiber any day. You really should thank your parents and embrace your birth name, kitten. Tiber's got nothing on Tiberius."

He tries to hide the smile that spreads quickly across his face. Very hard. Alas, he just cannot. Grinning widely at the man, Valentin pats him on the shoulder before continuing on. "I will return it to you in one week. Perhaps sooner."
Blame Adara. She is the one that told Valentin about the tricycle.. and how dear it was to Tiber. It may or may not be his, but the Butcher is insinuating it is.

"Ja?" He stops to accommodate the man's question regarding the small tricycle he carries. "I found it in the garage.." A thick finger points in the direction of the Doe's garage. "It was hidden beneath a swath of canvas. I figure I can appease a friend for sometime with it then clean it up, paint it pink and give it to my small niece."

Valentin isn't one to emancipate a person's property but an unbirthday gift was promised his Liebste and an unbirthday gift she would get. The giant moves past the male, whistling a slow tune, tricycle slung over his back. It seemed like a good gift for the young woman.. who might be a bit reckless behind the wheel. "Guten Abend," he acknowledges the man's presence as he passes by.

This guy must be stoned out of his mind. Or drunk. Or on bath salts. Probably the latter, because that is a face only a mother could love. Damn. How does someone contort like that? It's like a scary Halloween mask, or that look you get when you watch this girl you were totally trying to get start making out with another dude.

Derek's smile game is on, right along with those glassy eyes and insatiable munchies.

Still. Derek is a b-stard, and that is his brother's badge... never mind that he stole it. Stepping up, that smile stays in place as he meets his gaze with a cool ease. "Lucky for you, I'm on foot. So I can parade you alllll around."

And then, and please trust this went far better in his head, he holds up a pair of plastic handcuffs purchased from the toy section of the Dollar General.

"HEY!" The man, a stranger, calls out with a booming voice. Seems friendly enough. "Listen. I got this badge, and I'm gonna go do some pat downs, but in order to be faaaaiiiiir, it can't just be ladies. So. By the power invested in me," Derek proudly holds up a Detective's badge with the name Weston Norse emblazoned upon it, "I declare you a drug dealer. Assume the position."

Jocelyn's face fell and she sighed heavily, disappointed. "That's a shame. I bet you take very good pictures.

She looked at her hand, then his, and back at hers. Figuring he had no intention of returning the greeting, her hand dropped back to her side. "I thought shaking hands is what you did when meeting someone. Maybe I was wrong..."
Blue eyes narrowed. "Are you one of the grumpy ones?"

Recognizing the face, hair in particular, from earlier, Jocelyn trotted up to the man, wearing a bright smile. As always.

"Hi! Hello, my name is Jocelyn." She thrust a hand out to shake in greeting.

"Weren't you in the cell next to me a little while ago? Awful place to be... Um, I was wondering if you'd like to be friends so I can take your picture? Sorin said I need to befriend a person before I can take a picture of them, and I really like taking pictures."

*a smile reaches her eyes* My pleasure. *waves at his retreating form, is slightly terrified she might receive a beating heart**could just add it to her heart in a box collection**thinks maybe she should have asked for another body part**shrugs and goes back to...wtf was she doing before he interrupted?*

*cants head* Have you gone mad? *sly grin* Why yes, it is my unbirthday...*pointed gaze* What are you getting me for my unbirthday?*presses lips together tightly then smiles* I prefer hearts still beating...when they're ripped from someone's chest. I detest raspberries.

*looks up from her lime* Whaaa...*terribly confused, wonders what either of the two have to do with the another* Are the raspberry cookies macarons or, like, those cookies with the jelly in the center?*hates raspberries really*

I am not sniffing you, Tiber.I do a lot of things.That will not be one of them.I may sniff Solomon.Quinn says I have to marry him now.Is that because I put flowers in his beard?Why is Quinn married to a knob?Is that like the door variety?I doona think she would marry a doorknob.He had a father.Jim Jones.At least, I think that is what she meant.It could be some other person's father.What do you think?I did not know you had a dog?Is it a nice dog?

She said she knows you.Granted, it could be a burly man named Bob.It is all text.But she said Tiberius is good.Tiber is bad.No.Wait.Switch that.Are there two of you?I once set things on fire.A house.Well, two houses.Techinically, I set one on fire twice.That damn place just will not burn.I leave animals there now.Lost ones.The sun would set me on fire.I think I should just not play with fire.

Currently still hiding in the woods upstate.Have not found a lumberjack.Found a good whiskey.and a love guru.Or she found me.Wrong number.Quinn.She says Solomon is a virgin.Do you think so too?Did you know he lumbers Jack?I doona know who Jack is.But you know QUINN!Right?

Quinn had been in a state. For the past few months, her mind has deteriorated into something darker. There is no considering the state of herself. To the outside world, she is the essence of perfect. To those who know her, who know where to look, it is evident that she is slipping. She needs to get out.

Stop. Please.
Tiber had driven herself and Gideon back to this place, and he is what keeps them here. He'd been the catalyst, and it did not take long for the girl to figure out why. I can't stop him, Quinn, he'd told her. To that, she spoke her truth, I can.

And now, sat at the kitchen table in a house that is not her own, suffocated and bled dry of most hope, she finds herself staring at those very same messages that she just could not bring herself to delete. Gideon would come close to murder if he knew, and she understands that, but...

She has done unspeakable things, and it weighs heavy upon those slim shoulders. Quinn can't atone for all her sins, but there are some she could try to begin to mend.

*blinks* Picture or did not happen, that is how that adage goes, yes? But the bigger question would have to be is; what about other circus act costumes? Do you perhaps have one of those leotards for tightrope walking? Or maybe a lion tamer with a whip? Whips are good for tortu... *blinks more* I think I would like to see this costume. Yes, definitely.

Her phone chimes, and Quinn lifts it up without hestiation. Fingers tapping at the screen, she opens the message and stares. Tiber. She hadn't expected an answer. His words, despite everything, chip away at her heart. There is a real understanding of what he means, and the warning his words carry.

He would never be able to hold back.

She thinks back to that fateful day, locked in a room with the beast. So sure she had been that it would be the bitter end, but it hadn't. Quinn had been recognized in more ways than one, and she can only hope that she has some sort of significance.

Of all the people she hates, Tiber Loche isn't one of them. Quinn can't hate someone she has loved.

They returned to the house covered in blood, Gideon, thankfully, more so than Quinn. No words were spoken, as there is really nothing to say. She immediately enters the bathroom and turns on the shower, no doubt intending to wash off the grimey feeling that had nothing to do with the human lifesource.

There are no words he can use to comfort her; as such, he will give her space. There's a lot that comes with loving Gideon Abernathy, a cult being one of them.

He opts for a wh0rebath in the kitchen sink, only after stripping himself of the soiled clothing. Once he is as clean as he's going to get, he heads into the bedroom and redresses. The shower is still going, and he has a feeling it will remain that way for a while.

As he turns the sheets down, the fluttering of a piece of paper catches his eye. It falls off Quinn's side of the bed and onto the floor, and Gideon is instantly on edge. There was only one person who hadn't attended the ritual - his father. But this didn't fit his motive.

He sits on the edge of the bed and picks up the piece of paper. Unfolding it with slightly unsteady fingers, the words ***** themselves into his mind. The paper crumples in his grip as the only possibility steps forth in his psyche.

His stare is like fire, and she is sure that she is standing in the middle of a burning room. Quinn keeps herself from flinching at the sound of her voice. He had refused to speak it before, testing her again and again, not believing that it had been her. Once upon a time, the sound of his voice had been music to her ears. That was then.

Her brow cinches together, and she forces herself to let her arms fall to her sides. Still, she fidgets, fighting the urge to flee to a safer place. Her mind is screaming to run, and her heart is aching for relief from this interaction. "You betrayed me..."

Her voice holds no conviction, nor anger. It is a simple statement made with a simple tone, confused and hurt. He had tried to cut out her heart. Refusing her own weakness, her gaze flickers up to his face for just a second before it moves away again. She'd looked at him, just as he asked.

The clap on the back is undeniably startling, and his unmet hand drops back to his side. Gideon isn't an overly friendly person, though it is something he consciously works on. As such, though the returned grin is forced, that makes it no less genuine.

"It's nothing. I'm not sure how appropriate of a gift it is, but it was important enough for Ella to mention specifically, so I figured what the hell, you know?" He isn't lying, he deliberated long and hard about the implications of such a gift, and he came to no conclusions, so here he was.

To his musing, he nods and points in the direction of the back door. "Yeah, actually, in the garden. Here, let me show you..."

Quinn is uncomfortable, that much is obvious. The girl steps up, nervous and twisting her hands together behind her back. This was never supposed to happen. Tiber was not supposed to find her. But she has a duty, and must act on it. It is her job as the Lufcuh. Chocolate hues refusing to look the man in the eye, she speaks with a small, trembling voice. "Hi, Tiber."

Ella had told him the man liked meat, so he came prepared. As he approached with the package covered in that tell-tale brown paper, it was clear he was uncomfortably uncertain. But who was he to deny him the simple pleasures.

Rather unceremoniously, he held out the welcome gift and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Uh, I brought you a slab of the finest, at least according to the butcher. Unless that's not what you meant by 'meat lover,' in which case, I can't really be of any help. I do hear they made a new app, though. Gr-grinder? Or something?" He's rambling, and he has to shake his head to snap himself out of it. Offering a smirk and a hand to shake, he presses on. "I'm Gideon, by the way, resident gardener and scarecrow connoisseur. I hope you enjoy yourself here."